MP3 UPROAR DRIVES TRAFFIC TO INTERNET
MUSIC SITES IN APRIL,
ACCORDING TO NIELSEN//NETRATINGS
NEW YORK, NY – May 16, 2000 – This month’s most recent data from Nielsen//NetRatings, the fastest growing Internet audience measurement service from Nielsen Media Research, ACNielsen eRatings.com and NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT), indicates that the controversy involving MP3 companies has generated increased attention to online music sites. In April, several music sites swelled with audience traffic at-work and at-home, including WindowsMedia.com, sonicnet.com and audiohighway.com. WindowsMedia.com experienced the largest growth of 154 percent at-work and a 151 percent at-home. Meanwhile, sonicnet.com’s traffic rose 75 percent at-work and 79 percent at-home, and audiohighway.com’s audience increased 92 percent at-work and 68 percent at-home.
"Despite rumblings from the recording industry about illegal circulation of songs via MP3 files, the Web has become a viable platform on which artists can market their music, " said Timothy Sean Kelly, Director of Internet Media Strategies at NetRatings. "While record labels keep pushing for a secure digital standard with rights protection, the proliferation of online music entertainment and digital-music downloads will continue."
Nielsen//NetRatings Audience Traffic to Music Sites, At-Home
|
MARCH 2000 |
APRIL 2000 |
||
|
Site |
Unique Audience |
Unique Audience |
% Change |
|
WindowsMedia.com |
1,064,503 |
2,675,285 |
+151.3% |
|
sonicnet.com |
871,017 |
1,558,553 |
+78.9% |
|
audiohighway.com |
361,425 |
606,043 |
+67.7% |
|
mPulse.com |
324,317 |
525,757 |
+62.1% |
|
mp3mp4.com |
144,323 |
229,728 |
+59.2% |
|
mp3board.com |
202,815 |
288,675 |
+42.3% |
|
Napster.com |
1,144,537 |
1,600,143 |
+39.8% |
|
SonyMusic.com |
462,357 |
593,202 |
+28.3% |
|
LiquidAudio.com |
190,277 |
226,787 |
+19.2% |